Belobog.
Outlying Snow Plains.
"Is this enough, Natasha?" Takagi looked at the simple tombstone Natasha had erected for Vache, asking with concern.
"This is enough." Natasha nodded, looking at Takagi. "Thank you. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known my brother had done some good deeds. And thank you for giving me the power to lessen his sins."
As she spoke, Natasha raised her hand and summoned the Light Cone Takagi had given her earlier. It was precisely because of its massive enhancement effect that she could heal the patients affected by her brother's special medicine. This made Natasha extraordinarily grateful.
"Even without me, I think you probably would have found out about Vache's matters. Natasha, are you going to see your family in the Overworld next?" Takagi asked.
"Let's see them after the Stellaron matter is dealt with. Once it is resolved, I can meet them with a relaxed mind. At that time, would you be willing to come with me?" Natasha looked up at Takagi, her eyes full of anticipation. Because of an inexplicable feeling in her heart, she really wanted Takagi to meet her family.
"Since it's an invitation from Miss Natasha, I naturally have to accept. You were the doctor who took care of me when I fainted," Takagi smiled.
"Doctor, huh... If possible, I really hope you don't just see me as a doctor," Natasha lowered her head, whispering.
Takagi: "Hmm? Did you say something?"
Natasha: "I said, can I lean on your chest?"
Takagi: "What's with this sudden change?"
Natasha: "It's just that I suddenly learned too many things in one day, and I'm a little tired."
Takagi: "That's true; the Stellaron, your brother, the debts—these things are indeed a lot. In that case, I'll lend it to you."
Natasha smiled beautifully. She walked closer to Takagi, wrapping her arms around his waist. Her pretty face rested quietly against Takagi's chest. If Luka, Seele, or other members of Wildfire saw Natasha like this, they would undoubtedly be extremely surprised. One must know that Natasha was famously calm and had never shown such a side to anyone, let alone to a man.
Takagi lowered his head, looking at Natasha who was so close. He could even smell her hair. A moment later, after getting used to Natasha in his arms, Takagi's eyes narrowed, and he opened his personal panel, visible only to himself.
Host: Takagi
Imaginary Energy Level: Pseudo-Emanator
Lottery Chances: One
Note: The Host's Imaginary Energy Level has reached a bottleneck. Guide one more Teyvat passenger to embark on a Path, and the Host will gain the opportunity to meet an Aeon. After meeting an Aeon, the Host will inevitably obtain Emanator-level Imaginary Energy from them and may obtain corresponding Path authority.
Note: The Aeons the Host may meet are the Abundance, the Destruction, and the Preservation (to be expanded).
Just one more time and he could obtain Emanator-level power. But... you really are something, System. To obtain Emanator-level ability, it's not obtained from you, but by meeting an Aeon.
The Aeons he could meet were the three who had previously glanced at him. Although the System was just a machine, Takagi still couldn't help but complain about the panel notes. By now, he finally understood why those Aeons looked at him when Barbara, Klee, and Jean paid homage to them. Turns out they were laying the groundwork.
If he drew the Preservation, that would be fine. But if he drew the Destruction or the Abundance and obtained authority from them, Takagi felt he would need to be a little more careful when operating in the universe from now on. Both are regarded as calamities by many factions.
Whatever, getting any Aeon is fine. Thinking this, Takagi no longer felt worried. Instead, he focused on the remaining draw opportunity.
System, I want to draw.
Congratulations to the host, you have obtained the Bronya template, along with Bronya's exclusive Light Cone "But the Battle Isn't Over".
So the draw isn't related to which Aeon looks at me, Takagi muttered. Just as he was thinking about how to handle the remaining Light Cones, a turbulent energy flow caught his attention.
"What's wrong, Takagi?" Natasha, sensing his movement, raised her head curiously.
"Something seems off. Natasha, it looks like our break is over." Takagi said seriously.
"Did something happen?"
"I can feel the power of Belobog's Stellaron is in turmoil. That woman Cocolia seems unable to hold back any longer. Let's go, Natasha, we'll head back now." After speaking, Takagi directly took Natasha's hand and hurried towards where Lumine, Jean, and the others were.
"What?! Mother might have further activated the Stellaron?" Bronya stood up in surprise upon hearing the news.
"Yes, I can clearly sense the restless power. So I think our break ends here. Bronya, if you want to persuade Cocolia, this might be your last chance," Takagi said solemnly.
"I... I understand." Although she said this, Bronya was still a bit nervous. She was afraid she wouldn't be able to persuade Cocolia, and worried she didn't have the power to do so through combat. After all, Takagi had said that Cocolia, having gained the power of the Stellaron, was much stronger than a Trampler.
"If you're worried about the power issue, I can temporarily give this to you." Takagi handed the Light Cone "But the Battle Isn't Over" to Bronya.
Takagi felt it was necessary to provide Bronya with some help. He was even prepared to take action if they couldn't defeat Cocolia. The current situation was different from the original story where the Trailblazer was present with the power of Preservation. Currently, Takagi didn't think Bronya combined with Jean and the others could defeat Cocolia, let alone her "Mother of All Creation" state.
In that state, Cocolia's level of combat power would make even Teyvat's Seven Archons find it hard to sit still. If he didn't provide help, Lumine and the others would likely be defeated the moment they clashed.
"This is... what?!" The moment the Light Cone was in her hand, Bronya felt a powerful force surge into her body. It felt as if the item was custom-made for her.
"This is a Light Cone; you can think of it as a weapon. But... when did you get this, Takagi?" Seele frowned and asked.
Takagi: "Well... just a little while ago."
Seele: "Really? Custom-making one for her... can I take that to mean you're interested in her?"
Bronya: "!!!"
Natasha: "..."
Takagi: "Bronya is indeed a good girl; I don't dislike her."
Bronya: "Takagi!"
Takagi: "But there are many kinds of liking. If it's as you say, am I also interested in you?" He smiled and handed the Light Cone "In the Night" to Seele.
"This is... a Light Cone specifically for me!" Seele said in surprise.
"That's right! I thought about it and decided to give it to you. This thing isn't of much use to me anyway," Takagi said.
"I feel like this can more than double my power. In any case, thanks! If you ever need to fight in the future, you can call on me anytime. Aside from fighting, I don't know anything else." Seele put away the Light Cone. She knew Belobog's situation was not good and there would be plenty of trouble to deal with.
"No, there are many things you can still do. Like wearing black or something." Takagi smiled and gave Seele a thumbs up.
Seele: "You guy... are you that fond of black?"
Takagi: "If you don't like wearing black stockings, white ones are fine too."
Seele: "..." She knew she couldn't win against Takagi and silently turned around. Bronya saw Seele's actions and also silently put away her Light Cone. Right now, she needed power more than anyone.
[Dottore: So Takagi has more than one Light Cone, and it seems he can even create more!]
[La Signora: Hmph, I told you long ago that Takagi is not a simple person.]
[Neuvillette: A Light Cone that can double Seele's power? I speculate her Light Cone is not as powerful as the one Takagi lent to Klee back then.]
[Dottore: That is a point worth noting.]
[Kaeya: Being able to double Seele's power is already enviable enough. I wonder if it can have the same effect in our hands.]
[Dori: Even if it can't, it can boost our power a little. These would definitely be the best commodities!]
[Zhongli: Takagi can make Light Cones. I wonder if it's because he's related to the Garden of Recollection or the IPC.]
"Well, everyone, let's get going. I'm worried that if we delay, the Fragmentum over at Everwinter Hill might pass through the Silvermane Guard Restricted Zone and reach the Administrative District," Takagi said.
"The rifts will pass through the Restricted Zone? There are a lot of guards on duty there. Damn it, we have to get back," Bronya said anxiously.
"Cheer up, everyone. Everwinter Hill is where the Stellaron is directly stored. The Fragmentum and the monsters there are far from comparable to what you saw in the Edge of Passage. Even a Pathstrider can easily be killed if they're not careful," Takagi said seriously. Paimon swallowed, and the others became instantly serious.
[Xiangling: I feel like something big is about to happen.]
[Xingqiu: According to Takagi, that Everwinter Hill is probably a restricted area for us Vision holders.]
[Madame Ping: Not just for Vision holders; it is probably also a restricted area for the Adepti.]
[Zhongli: A place more severely eroded... in Teyvat's terms, perhaps it can be understood as a place cursed by a god.]
[Tartaglia: A god's curse... I'm becoming more and more curious about this Everwinter Hill.]
[Scaramouche: If it's just like a god's curse, then it would be too disappointing.]
[Yoimiya: Are we about to see what a place near the Stellaron looks like? Please, don't let it be too scary.]
Takagi and the others moved quickly. It didn't take long before they returned to Belobog. Bronya couldn't find Cocolia in her office, so at Takagi's suggestion, they went directly to the Silvermane Guard Restricted Zone.
With the help of Takagi's invisibility, they easily entered. Strangely, they rarely saw any guards along the way. This surprised even Takagi. In his impression, there should be a large number of soldiers and machines here.
"Could it be..." Takagi raised his head and looked towards the deepest part of the area.
"Takagi, did you think of something?" Bronya asked.
"Yes! I think I know where all the guards went. If I'm not mistaken, they might have all gone to the front line." Takagi nodded.
"The front line? Wait, is it the large gate that Gepard often guards?!" Serval exclaimed, immediately running toward the heavily guarded gate that led to the Corridor of Fading Echoes and Everwinter Hill.
A few minutes later, when they arrived, they were startled by the scene. "This... What in the world happened!" Bronya said in horror.
Before her eyes, the heavily guarded gate was still there, but a huge opening had been cut into it by a Fragmentum rift. Not only that, but there were dozens of rifts on the walls, some extending tens of meters high. Countless monsters were surging through these rifts, and directly opposite them were the Silvermane Guards led by Gepard.